Machine for trimming printers  plates



2 sheets sheet 1;

(No'ModeL) J.E.OAP S. MACHINE FOR TRIMMING PRINTERS PLATES.

No. 513,031. Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

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8) W m H (N o Mode1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J.BqcAPs;

MACHINE FOR TBIMMING PRINTERS PLATES. No. 613,031; Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

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Nrrsn STATES.

PATENT Fries.

JOHN E. CAPS, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,031, dated January 16, 1894.

Application filed February 28, 1893. Serial No. 461,102. (No model.)

To 0; whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. GAPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, 1n the county of Jackson and State of Missourl, have invented a new and useful Finishlng-Machine for Printing Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to finishing machines for stereotype and eiectrotype plates; and it has for its object to provide an improved machine of this character, which shall combine 1n the various parts thereof amachine, by means of which the finishing of printing plates of all characters can-be readily, quickly and effectively accomplished.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to not only simplify the process of finishing printing plates, but also to provide certain important improvements in machines for effect the finishing.

In connection with the general objects referred to, the invention particularly contemplates efficient means whereby in a single machine may be combined the planing and routlng of the plates with the final trimming thereof.

With these and many other objects in view which fall within the scope of the presentine vention, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, ill ustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure l is a perspective view of a complete finishing machine constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the trimming table or'carriage showing the table clamp, and thebeveling support for the plate, attached to the gage arm. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the trimmer head showing the bit in position and also one end of the printing plate supported in proper position for beveling. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in plan of the trimmer head. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing more clearly the relative position of the trimmer head to thetrimming table, and the plate being operated upon. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view and elevation of the planing and routing tools, respectively.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a leg frame carrying on the bed steadiness, I employ the table adjusting screw D. The screw D, is mounted to turn in the unthreaded bearing lugs d, projecting from one side of one of the guides or ways B, and in order to bring the screw into use, the same is designed to be engaged by the hinged arm d, hinged at one end to the bottom of the table 0, and provided in one edge with the threaded notch d By holding the arm against the screw D and manipulating the latter the table can be moved back and forth as the special character of the work may require.

The trimming table C, is provided at its front edge with the grooved guide rib E, upon which is mounted to slide the arm sleeve 6, from which projects the ordinary gage arm F, adapted to move flat on the table 0, and to line up the Work to the trimming device in the ordinary manner. The arm sleeve 6, is provided with a threaded bearing f, which receives one end of the adjusting screws f, working through the upper bearing end of the moving clamp f working over the guide rib E, at the front end of the table, and held firmlyin any set position by means of the set screw f passing through one side thereof and impinging against said guide rib. The gage arm and the adjusting devices therefor are not only employed in their ordinary capacity in the present application, but also in connection with an auxiliary clamp used for holding the work during planing and routing, as will now be described.

In the present invention, the trimming table 0, is provided with a transverse dove-tail groove G, which receives the dove-tailed block g, to which is clamped thestationary clamping jaw g. The stationary clamping jaw g, is provided with a straight serrated clamping edge g and is held stationary on the flat'trimming table by the means just described, and directly opposite the stationary jaw is designed to work the corresponding sliding jaw H. Y The sliding jaw H, is also provided with a straight serrated clamping edge h, facing IOO that of the stationary plate, and is attached to the sliding-block 7L2, moving in the table groove G. The sliding or movable jaw H, is adjusted and clamped in position by means of the gage arm and its operating devices, said gage arm being designed to have one side thereof bear againstthesliding jaw. 'NowitI will be apparent thatin clamping the printing plate in position to be operated upon, it is only necessary to place the same on the trimming table against the stationary jaw. By

sharply sliding the gage arm in one direction the sliding or movable jaw is'brought up 'to' the printing plate or block, so .as to holdithe,

planing or routing tooladapted to work directly .thereover.

Either a planing or routing tooll,ais detachablyattached to the lower end of the vertically adjustable tool stock '5. The -vertically adjustable tool StOGkt whichcarries interchangeable planing and routing toolslI, turns in thebearing 733 01115116 swinging bearingarm L'T", andicarries at its upper end the pulley "i whichreceives its motion from a suitable belt passingtherefrom and overthe pulley t ,:3t one end of the frame. Thebearing arm i is pivoted at one end, as at & so as to allow the other end free to be moved backwand forth over the support J, at one side of the frame, so that theplaningand routing of .the printing plate can be readily accomplished. It will be readily apparent that when motion is transmitted to the vertically adjustable rotary toolstock, the printing, plate can be planed off type high, and protruding and defective surfaces eliminated bytrouting, if necessary, thus combining a tool stock capable of carrying eitheraplaning-orroutingttool.

After the printingplate has been planed totthe-desired height, and has been routed if necessary, it is next necessary to trim oft the edges of the plate before the same is ready for printingpurposes. The plate which is V readyto be trimmedistransferred from the headc K. The trimming head K, is mounted on one end of the arbor 7c,which receives its motion fromlsuitable beltingand is arranged adjacent" to the ordinary saw table It. The

trimming headK, is a circular disk and is the drawings.

heldstationaryin the head by any suitable means, and are designed to have their cutting ends project but .a slight distance beyond the face ofthe head K, and travel in very close proximity to one edge of the trimming table O.- As clearly illustrated in Fig.

5. of'the drawings, it will be seen that by reason of havingthe "chip pockets or indentations L, in one face of the head K, the trimming tool cannotonlybe adjusted toproject but a slight distance beyondthe base. of the -head,but the head itself cache-arranged in close proximity totthe .trimmertta-ble *and much nearer than the trimming heads now in use.

It will be seen that the chippockets orindentations L, receive the chips'eutbythe tool or hit, so that such chipstwillnot-olog between. the tools an the head, thusproviding for clean and eftectivework. .A further point to beobserved is that ,by the adjustment of the cutting ends of :the trimming tools close to theface of the head, .it t is 1 impossible for the tools or bits to throw theprintingplate off of thetable, asxis generally the case-where the cutting bits project materially beyond thefaceof the-cutter head, and in-.casethe printing plates .were to rsliptbeyond .the edges of the trimming .table the same would rest fiat against thetrimming ahead, and-still-the cutting .bits would not, project-sufficiently so asto throw. the plate off, thereby preventing accidents.

In certain classes of work it is necessary, to

bevel the edges of the trimming plate and be- 1 low the plane of the type, and inorderztoprovide for this I employ the inclined'beveli-ng support N. Clearlyshown inFigsPEZ and 3 of The inclined tbeveli-ng support N, is PIOVldBd-WVlllll atfrontandzrearsup- ILO porting leg '21 and n, the reart-leg-n' of which is suitably secured ;at, M, to the. gage l'bttl'jF, so thatthe other lowerend of the support can beproperly adj usted .uplto the trimming edge of thetable. The front orouter leg n of the inclined support rests .on the-:combinedadj usting. and supporting screws 0, iWhlGh'sIQSiJ ontop of the trimming table and areza'djusted so as to support the printing plate in. a position inwhich the type is above the :circle -of out of the trimming-cutters, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The inclined beveling support carries an adj ustable gage arm P, similarrto that describedifor thewtrimming table and adj usteda'by similar. devices. Pivotallyattached atone \endto the ar1n.P,=.is the springretainingwarm Q,;the other'endtof which carries a cushioned tip Rywhichis adapted to beheld onto the top of the'pri-nb ing the edges of such plate. A thumb flange S is formed at one end of the retaining arm to provide means for manipulating the same. As illustrated, the beveling support can be readily attached to and detached from the trimming table.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described finishing machine for printing plates, will be readily understood without further description, and I will have it understood that changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction as embraced within the scope of the appended claims, may be resorted to without departingfrom the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a finishing machine for printingv plates, the combination with a flat trimming table having a transverse dovetail groove, and the ordinary adjustable gage arm sliding flat on said table, of a table clamp comprising a stationary clamping jaw having a dove-tail block clamped in the groove of the table, and a straight serrated clamping edge, and an opposing sliding clamping jaw having a sliding block moving in the table groove, and a straight serrated clamping edge, said sliding jaw being adapted to be forced toward the stationary jaw and to be clamped in position on the work by means of sharply sliding the ordinary gage arm there-against, and adj usting the same by its adjusting devices, substantially as set forth.

2. In a finishing machine for printing plates, the combination with a sliding trimming table, and an adjustable gage arm moving thereon; of a table clamp arranged on the trimming table and controlled by said gage arm, interchangeable planing and routing tools arranged to rotate above the table clamp, and a trimming device, substantially as set forth.

3. In a finishing machine for printing plates,the combination with the sliding trimmingtable; of a rotary trimming head mounted to turn adjacent to one edge of said table and provided with chip pockets or indentations in one face, and trimming tools mounted in said head and having their cutting ends projecting out of the chip pockets, substantially as set forth. V

4. In a finishingmachine for printing plates, the combination of the trimming table mounted for sliding movement, aplaning or routing tool arranged to rotate above the table, a trimming tool arranged to work adjaadjustable gage arm arranged on the support,

and a swinging spring retaining arm pivoted at one. end to the gage arm on the support and having a cushion tip. at its other end adapted to bear on the printing plate, substantially as set forth.

6. In a finishing machine for printing plates, the combination of the parallel guides one of which is provided with unthreaded bearing lugs, an adjusting screw mounted in said unthreaded bearing lugs, the trimming table mounted to slide on said guides, a hinged arm attached to the trimming table and having a threaded notch in one edge adapted to be placed into engagement with the screw, and planing or routing, and trimming devices, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN E. GAPS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, A. J. J ONES. 

